Lemaire (1800-1871), was a French botanist and specialist on Cactaceae. He worked in
Belgium as editor of several important botanical publications, such as the Flore
des serres and l'Illustration horticole. Le jardin fleuriste was published from
1851 to 1854 in 4 volumes and is beautifully illustrated, sometimes with large
folding plates, which have double numbers. It has a definite preference for the
exotic plants, suitable only for the hot-house in northern Europe. In the first
half of the 19th century colour-printing from stone dominated the scene of
botanical illustration and the Belgian lithographers reached the ultimate in
craftmanship, in a period that Belgium was one of the main horticultural centres in Europe.
* Pritzel 10.776; Nissen BBI 2338; Great flower books p. 85; Stafleu & Cowan 4376.